Collapsible bottle carrier



Sept. 9, 1969 P. A. ZORN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1968 a WW Mae 0 U N M NEH e 50% v2 d W R .w Z M a Pay Sept. 9, 1969 zo ET AL 3,465,913

COLLAPS IBLE BOTTLE CARRIER Filed June 17, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8A 7A 5A 42A 44A 7mg; 8 /0 FIG. 4

mvsmoxs P5751? A. zo/ew a GEORGE E. SCHEUR/NG United States Patent US. Cl. 220-111 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible bottle carrier is formed from a single sheet of flexible material, such as polyethylene, the carrier having a reinforced central partition and a pluraity of bottle compartments. The carrier is locked into upstanding position by the use of a slot in the partition and locking tabs formed from portions of the end walls of the container, and is readily collapsed to a lay flat position for shipment when empty.

Background of the invention Numerous basket-style bottle carriers are known, each suifering from disadvantage such as the necessity of forming such carriers from a plurality of components, and the inability of folding the containers when once assembled into an upright position, into a flat position so that the empty carriers may be stored or shipped without consuming a large amount of storage area. Paper containers also have disadvantages with respect to the weakening or warping of the containers when contacted with moisture.

We have found that a bottle carrier can be formed from a single sheet of flexible material. The container is readily assembled and is just as readily collapsed for shipment or storage of empty carriers. In addition, when the carriers are formed from a flexible material such as polyethylene sheet, the carriers are reusable because of the ability to steam clean or otherwise wash or disinfect the carriers without damaging them.

Summary of the invention A foldable carrier for bottles and the like is formed from a continuous sheet of flexible material, for example polyethylene. The carrier has a pair of substantially vertical interconnected interior walls, which form a central partition for the carrier, having an aperture in the top portion to serve as a handle. The bottom of the central partition is flared and hingedly attached to the bottom walls, which are, in turn, hingedly attached to a pair of upwardly extending exterior side walls. End panels of the side walls have flaps for the attachment of opposed end panels and L-shaped dividers, formed by an incision in the wall, extending to the central partition. These dividers form part of the locking means for the carrier. In conjunction with the portions of the L-shaped members, the

central partition has a slot with an upwardly extending tongue which tongue is engageable with locking tabs on the portions of the dividers when the central partition is intermediate said portions and locked into position to hold the container in an upright position.

The objects and novel features of the invention are described by the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are intended as a definition of the invention, but are for the purpose of illustration only.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the carrier of the invention in upstanding, locked position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier of FIGURE 1 in collapsed position.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank having fold lines and apertures to permit formation of the carrier in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the carrier of FIGURE 1 in semicollapsed position.

FIGURE 5 is a partial view of the FIGURE 1 showing the engagement of the locking tabs with the tongue of the central partition to lock the carrier in upstanding position.

Detailed description Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated the carrier of the invention in upstanding, locked position. The carrier is formed from a single sheet of plastic material 1 (FIGURE 3). This single sheet 1 has been folded along central fold line 11 and assembled so as to have a central partition formed from attached interior walls 3 and 3A, bottom walls 5 and 5A, generally normal to the central partition and side walls 7 and 7A, normal to the bottom walls and generally parallel to the central partition. The side walls have hingedly attached thereto, end panels 8, 8A, and 8, 8A extending inwardly and attached by means of flaps 10, 10A and 10, 10A. The side walls have incisions 43, 43A, 43 and 43A extending from end panels 8, 8A, 8 8A, generally parallel to the bases 5 and 5 A, extending a distance into side Walls 7 and 7A to form L- shaped dividers 40, 40A and 40, 40A, with 42, 42A, 42', 42A, extending inwardly towards the central partition and portions 44, 44A, 44', 44A, extending towards said flaps. Portions 44 and 44A attached together, as are portions 44 and 44A by means of locking tabs 51, 51A, and 51', 51A. The central partition is thus intermediate portions 44, 44A, and 44', 44A and is held therein by the attached tabs 51, 51A and 51', 51A. The carrier has six cells or pockets for carrying bottles and it can be readily collapsed.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the blank 1 comprises a single sheet of flexible material, preferably, plastic sheet material. Since the sections on either side of the fold line are substantially alike (section 2A is identical to section 2, with the exception of the apertures for a hand hold) only the section 2 will be described in detail.

The section that extends from fold line 11 forms first an interior wall 3, as the section is folded along fold line 11. In use as a bottle carrier, this wall 3 is substantially vertical. Handle portion 4 is near the fold line 11 and a flared portion 6 is provided at the base at fold line 13. An aperture 30 in hand portion 4 provides a hand or finger hold for the carrier when the carrier is in standing position. Hingedly attached to interior wall 3 by means of fold line 13 is bottom wall 5 that is adapted to be bent along line 13 to about perpendicular to wall 3. The carrier, when in standing position, has bottom wall 5, upon which the bottles or containers rest, in substantially horizontal position.

Attached to bottom wall 5 and adapted to be bent upwardly to about right angle to the bottom wall 5 along fold line 15 is the side wall 7 that constitutes the vertical exterior side wall. When in standing position, the upstanding exterior wall 7 is in parallel position to the interior wall 3 and generally normal to the bottom 5.

The lines formed by the ends of bottom walls 5 continue on to the side wall 7 as fold lines 17 and 17' to form end panels 8 and 8' respectively. These end panels 8 and 8 have at their outer sections, fold lines 21 and 21' to form flaps 10 and 10' hingedly attached to end panels 8 and 8'. Also located in the end panels 8 and 8' are apertures 53 and 53' which serve to permit insertion of attachment apparatus such as a stapling mechanism when opposed end panel flaps 10 and 10A (not shown) 3 or 10' and 10A (not shown) are to be attached, as hereinafter described.

Incisions 43 and 43' are cut in end panels 8 and 8' and extend from flaps 10 and 10', generally parallel to bottom wall 5. These incisions 43 and 43 extend a distance into side wall 7.

Incisions 43 and 43' form L-shaped dividers 40 and 40, FIGURE 1, when the carrier is in standing position. Fold line 41 and 41' are continuations of fold lines 17 and 17'. Fold lines 19 and 19 permit the extension of that section of 42 and 42' of the dividers 40 and 40' from the side wall 7 to the central partition formed by interior walls 3 when the carrier stands, while fold lines 41 and 41' form the portions 44 and 44' the L-shaped dividers that extend toward flaps 10 and 10'.

Locking tabs 51 and 51 are cut on the portions 44, and 44' of the dividers. These tabs serve as one component of a locking system to lock the container in upright position. The other component of the locking system of the present invention is the inwardly extending curved slot 31 formed in the central partition of the carrier. This slot 31, in the interior wall 3, when the container is standing, is preferably an inwardly and upwardly extending curved slot terminating downwardly to form an upwardly extending tongue 35 in the wall. The interior wall 3 also has curved edges 37 and 37 from the flared portion 6 of the interior wall to the slot 31 which enable the locking of the carrier in upright position by exerting pressure on the end walls 8 and 8' of the assembled carrier.

The handle portions 4 and 4A of the carrier, formed by folding interior walls 3 and 3A together, has therein apertures 30 and 30A for insertion of fingers. A reinforcement for the handle is provided by allowing the section of material 27 and 29, which would normally be removed from handle portion 4 to provide aperture 30, to be hingedly attached to the handle at fold line 23 and not totally removed. This hingedly attached portion has a fold line at 25 to divide the portion into two parts, part 29 and cushioning part 27. The part 29 is the same length, e, as the distance, d, in the handle portion. When the container is assembled, the part 29 is folded upwardly intermediate the handle portions 4 and 4A with the edge 28 contacting the interior side of fold line 11 while the cushioning part 29 is in a relatively horizontal position and prevents cutting, scratching or irritation of the fingers of the person using the carrier and cushions the fingers when weighted bottles are being transported.

In assembling the carrier, the blank 1 is cut and scored at the designated areas as shown in FIGURE 3. The blank is folded in a direction away from the assembler and along fold line 11 so that the ends 100 and 100A of the sheet are brought together to form the central partition comprised of interior walls 3 and 3A. The walls are attached together such as by staples 73, FIGURE 1. The bottoms, and 5A are allowed to remain in the same plane as the partition to assemble the carrier in a fiat collapsed condition. Next, the side walls 7 and 7A are folded upwardly along line 15 to a position generally parallel to the central partition. The end panels 8 and 8A are thus flush, as are end panels 8 and 8A. Flaps 10, 10A and 10A are folded towards the interior of the carrier along fold lines 21, 21', 21A and 21A. Thus, flaps 10 and 10A are flush with each other, as better seen in FIGURE 4, and flaps 10 and 10A are flush with each other, with all flaps lying in the same general plane as the central partition, intermediate the end panels. The apertures 53, 53', 53A and 53A provide access to the flaps 10, 10A, 10, 10A when the carrier is being assembled. The flaps 10 and 10A are then secured together, such as by stapling, heat sealing, by an adhesive or other means. Flaps 10' and 10A are likewise secured. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the staples may be inserted through apertures 53. The next step in assembling the carrier is to secure locking tabs 51 and 51A together as illustrated herein by staples 75, and to secure locking tabs 51' and 51A together. This provides a pair of locking tabs, in the same general plane as the central partition. The handle portion 4 is thus telescoped above the exterior side walls 7, 7A and the interior walls 3 and 3A. Bottom walls 5 and 5A are intermediate and in touching relationship to the side walls 7 and 7A. The exterior side walls 7 and 7A are attached together only at the locking tabs 51, 51A and 51 and 51A, and at the flaps 10, 10A and 10', 10A of the end panels. There has now been produced the collapsed carrier shown in FIGURE 2. In this collapsed position, the carrier is easily stored or shipped with the need for little storage or shipping space. Thus, the manufacturer can bulk ship the carriers and the user can store the carriers without high cost with respect to such shipment or storage.

To place the carrier into a standing and locked position for carrying bottles, pressure, such as by hand, is exerted on the ends of the carrier (actually -fold lines 21, 21A on one end and fold lines 21', 21A on the other end) in the direction of the central partition, as shown by arrows 81 and 81' in FIGURES 2 and 4. This exertion of pressure causes the side walls 7 and 7A to move away from the central partition, the bottom walls 5 and 5A to move towards a position normal to the central portion and the side walls 7 and 7A, and the end panels 8, 8A and 8', 8A to move away from each and into parallel positions.

As seen in FIGURE 4, showing a top view of a semicollapsed container, the attachment of flaps 10 and 10A and tabs 51 and 51A results in a space 61 between the portions 44 and 44A of the dividers 40 and 40A. The attachment of flaps 10' and 10A and tabs 51' and 51A also result in a space 61' between portions 44' and 44A. As pressure is exerted and the ends of the carrier brought closer together, the central partition is forced downward into the spaces 61 and 61. The locking tabs contact the curved edges 37 and 37, extending from the base to the slot, of the central partition until the tabs enter slots 31, 31A, 31, 31A and are held therein by tongues 35, 35A and 35, 35A to lock the carrier into upstanding position.

The coaction of attached locking tabs 51 and 51A with the. tongues 35 and 35A of the central partition is more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5. The tabs 51 and 51A are attached, such as staple 75 and the attached flaps are intermediate the portions 44 and 44A of the dividers 40 and 40A. The attached tabs 51 and 51A extend below the slot termination 33 and are locked in place by tongues 35 and 35A. The tongues 35 and 35A prevent the horizontal movement of the tabs 51 and 51A and maintain the carrier in upstanding, locked position.

Users of bottle carriers often desire that the carrier can be reused. In such a case, the carrier would be cleaned or sterilized and the carrier collapsed so as to conserve storage space until the next use period for the carrier. Thus, the collapsability of the carrier becomes an important characteristic. To collapse the carrier, when it is in open, locked position, the locking tabs 51, 51A and 51, 51A are merely lifted from their contact with tongues 35, 35A and 35, 35A, such as by pressing down on the central partition at fold line 11 and holding the remainder of the carrier in a steady position. This dislodges the tabs from the tongues and the carrier is then pushed together, by hand or otherwise, by exertion of pressure on the side walls 7 and 7A to force them together. When this is done, the handle portion telescopes upwardly and the bottom walls 5 and 5A are positioned between the side walls 7 and 7A as was shown in FIGURE 2.

The carrier is preferably formed from a sheet of polyethylene material such as that sold under the trademark Super Dylan. The thickness of the sheet of polyethylene can be varied, so long as the sheet maintains a flexible character. It has been found, for example, that thicknesses of from 10-60 mil are usable, but a thickness of 20-30 mil is preferred. Other flexible polymers that can be extruded into sheet, such as polystyrene or vinyls, are usable. The carrier, of course, can be formed from conventional flexible paperboard material, if desired.

Although the use of staples is described to attach the various portions of the container, other attachment means, depending on the sheet material used, can suffice. The numerous means of attachment include various fasteners such as staples, snaps, eyelets, riveting, sewing, by heat sealing and, of course, various adhesive materials can be used.

The sheet material is readily cut, scored and creased using conventional knives, rolls and other devices generally used for such purposes.

The carrier illustrated in the drawing is designed to contain six bottles, the generally used amount.

There has been described a novel carrier for bottles, preferably formed from a single sheet of flexible plastic material. The sheet is formed into a blank having designated apertures and fold lines and the blank is readily assembled into a carrier. The carrier is capable of being stored or shipped, when empty, in a collapsed position and easily and quickly assembled into upstanding locked position for insertion and transporting of bottles.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle carrier formed from a single continuous sheet of flexible material comprising:

(1) a pair of substantially vertical interior interconnected walls that extend downwardly from a central fold line of said sheet to form a transverse central partition;

(21) said central partition having an aperture in the top portion thereof to serve as a handle for said carrier;

(b) said central partition having on each vertical edge, a slot, below said aperture that is shaped so as to form an upwardly extending tongue;

((2) said partition also having each of said edges flared outwardly at a location from said slot to a line forming a base thereof;

(2) a pair of normally substantially horizontal bottom walls hingedly attached to the bottom edge of said base;

(3) a pair of upwardly extending exterior side walls hingedly attached to said bottom walls at their outer longitudinal edges;

(4) end panels hingedly attached to the vertical edges of said side walls;

(a) said end panels having flaps at their vertical distal edges, whereby the attachment together of corresponding flaps secures the end panels together;

(5) a first incision in said side walls and end panels extending from said flaps, parallel to said base, for a distance along said side walls to form L-shaped dividers capable of extending from said side walls toward said partition with;

(a) one portion of each divider extending towards a respective end panel, said portion having a second incision therein to form a locking tab; and

(6) means for securing cooperating tabs together with said portions in spaced relationship, whereby secured cooperating tabs are engageable with said partition tongue, with said partition lip intermediate said spaced portions, to maintain said carrier in an open locked position.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is polyethylene sheet material.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein one of said pair of interior walls has, in the top portion thereof, a reinforcement for said handle, said reinforcement comprising a. reinforcing section of material divided into:

(a) a top portion, hingedly attached to said interior wall by means of fold line; and

'(b) a bottom portion, attached to said top portion by means of fold line;

said bottom portion being of the same or slightly greater length as the distance from said central fold line and said fold line hingedly attaching said reinforcing section of material, whereby said bottom portion can be folded inwardly and upwardly intermediate said interior walls with said top portion in substantially horizontal position to provide a reinforced and cushioning handle for said carrier.

4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said slot, on each edge of said central partition is a curved slot extending inwardly and upwardly from the outer edge and terminating downwardly to form said upwardly extending lip.

5. A continuous flexible sheet material blank cut and scored to provide a plurality of internal walls, bottom walls, and end panels, which when assembled provide a collapsible article carrier comprising:

(1) a pair of substantially vertical interior interconnected walls that extend downwardly from a central fold line of said sheet to form a transverse central partition;

(a) said central partition having an aperture in the top portion thereof to serve as a handle for said carrier;

(b) said central partition having on each vertical edge, a slot, below said aperture, that is shaped so as to form an upwardly extending tongue;

(c) said partition also having each of said edges flared outwardly at a location from said slot to a line forming a base thereof;

(2) a pair of normally substantially horizontal bottom walls hingedly attached to the bottom edge of said base;

(3) a pair of upwardly extending exterior side walls hingedly attached to said bottom walls at their outer longitudinal edges;

(4) end panels hingedly attached to the vertical edges of said side walls;

(a) said end panels having flaps at their vertical distal edges, whereby flue attachment together of corresponding flaps secures the end panels together;

(5) a first incision in said side walls and end panels extending from said flaps, parallel to said base, for a distance along said side walls to form L-shaped dividers capable of extending from said side walls toward said central partition with:

(a) one portion of each divider extending towards a respective end panel, said portion "having a second incision therein to form a locking tab; and

(6) means for securing cooperating locking tabs together with pairs of said one portion in spaced relationship, whereby secured cooperating tabs are engageable with said partition tongue, with said partition tongue intermediate said spaced portions, to maintain said carrier in open locked position.

6. The blank of claim 5 wherein said sheet material is flexible polyethylene sheet material.

7. A bottle carrier formed from flexible sheet material comprising:

(1) a pair of substantially vertical interior interconnected walls that form a central partition;

(a) said central partition having an aperture in the top portion thereof to serve as a handle for said carrier;

'(b) said central partition having on each vertical edge, a slot below said aperture, that is shaped so as to form an upwardly extending tongue;

(c) said partition also having each of said edges flared outwardly at a location from said slot to a line forming a base thereof;

(2) a pair of normally substantially horizontal bottom 7 walls hingedly attached to the bottom edge of said base;

(3) a pair of upwardly extending exterior side walls hingedly attached to said bottom walls at their. outer longitudinal edges;

(4) end panels hingedly attached to the vertical edges of said side walls;

(a) said end panels having flaps at their vertical distal edges, whereby the attachment together of corresponding flaps secures the end panels together;

(5) a first incision in said side walls and end panels extending from said flaps, parallel to said base, for a distance along said side walls to form L-shaped dividers capable of extending from said side walls toward said central partition with:

(a) one portion of each divider extending towards a respective end panel, said portion having a second incision therein to form a locking tab; and

(6) means for securing cooperating locking tabs together with pairs of said one portion in spaced relationship, whereby secured cooperating tabs are engageable with said partition tongue, with said partition tongue intermediate said spaced portions, to maintain said carrier in open locked position.

8. A bottle carrier formed from a single continuous tion at the base thereof, and a convex configuration from said flared portion to said slot;

(2) a pair of substantially horizontally extending bottom walls hingedly attached to the bottom edge of the base of said central partition;

(3) a pair of upwardly extending exterior side walls hingedly attached to the outer longitudinal edges of said bottom walls and having end panels hingedly attached to the vertical edges thereof, the end panels having flaps on their vertical distal edges for attachment together of opposed end panels of opposed end walls; and

(4) L-shaped dividing strips, cut from the material of said side walls and end panels and hingedly attached thereto, extending from said side walls, toward said partition;

one leg portion of each of said L-shaped stri s extending towards an end panel with opposed pairs of said one leg portion of opposed end panels being attached in spaced relationship by means of locking tabs therebetween, said locking tabs being engageable with said tongue of said central partition when said partition is in locking relationship with said opposed leg portions, to maintain the carrier in open, locked position.

References Cited sheet of flexible material comprising:

UNITED STATES PATENTS (1) a pair of substantially vertically extending interconnected interior walls, extending downwardly from 30 g k FT a transverse central fold line of said sheet to form 3348730 10/1967 e n 220 111 a central partition for said carrier, said central parti- 3,352:452 11/1967 Grazer 220 111 tion having an aperture in the top portion thereof to serve as a handle for said carrier, the vertical ends of said central partition, below said handle, hav- 35 ing a curved slot extending upwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of said partition, said slot terminating downwardly to form an upwardly extending tongue; said partition ends having a flared por- JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner JAMES R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 220113 

